Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
The SportsLine Projection Model has identified Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a top anytime touchdown scorer pick for Thursday Night Football. This prediction comes ahead of the critical NFC West matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, suggesting a strong potential for Smith-Njigba to find the end zone.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. He continues to work his way back as he approaches the end of his 21-day practice window, indicating a potential return to full activity soon. Diggs' progress is being closely monitored as the team prepares for upcoming matchups.
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams left Sunday's loss to the Vikings with a concussion, playing 31 of 54 snaps before his head injury. He missed Wednesday's practice as he remains in concussion protocol. His status for upcoming games is uncertain as he continues to recover from the head injury.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to an illness, following his clearing of concussion protocol for Week 15 and recording his third consecutive 100-yard game. Lamb will have two more opportunities to practice this week, or he risks entering Sunday's challenging home matchup against the Chargers with an injury designation. His absence was initially unclear but later confirmed as an illness.
Denver Broncos RB RJ Harvey (ribs) practiced fully Wednesday, with coach Sean Payton expressing no concern about his injury, expecting him to start and be busy against Jacksonville. Harvey sustained the rib issue late in Sunday's 34-26 win over the Packers, where he recorded a 68% snap share, 19 carries for 65 yards, and a touchdown. The signing of RB Cody Schrader is unrelated to Harvey's status, confirming optimism for his Week 16 availability against the Jaguars, who surrender a league-low 86.3 rushing yards per game.
Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow stated he "can't see" playing for any team other than the Bengals in 2026, but admitted he's considered other career options, acknowledging "crazy things can happen" in the NFL and citing the Micah Parsons trade. He clarified his recent frustrated mood wasn't about team dissatisfaction, but acknowledged the team's lack of wins despite efforts, impacted by his Week 2 foot injury. Burrow, who signed a $275 million extension through 2029, intends to play out the season despite playoff elimination, seeking to "make football fun again" after a challenging year.
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart stated Wednesday he is "absolutely not" concerned about being targeted by opponents. This comes after the Commanders made a point Sunday to treat him like a running back, delivering as many hits as possible during their game. Dart views this treatment as "nothing new" and remains unfazed by the physical approach.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has seen a significant drop in Week 16 NFL QB Power Rankings due to recent performance, despite a promising start to the 2025 season. Sanders, however, remains confident, stating that the 3-11 Browns' season is "the worst it's gonna be" and believes the team can only improve from here. He recently received advice from former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston, who emphasized that "the most important thing is the wins."
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is ready to move on from the criticism he received following the team's December 4th loss to the Detroit Lions. Pickens did not want to delve deeply into the subject. Separately, his future with the team was a topic of discussion on 'The Herd,' where former NFL star Julian Edelman discussed whether the Cowboys should extend Pickens' contract, among other NFL topics.
Julian Edelman joined Colin Cowherd on 'The Herd' to discuss various NFL topics, including the New England Patriots' Super Bowl contention. Edelman expressed skepticism about the Patriots' chances, stating, "They're not there yet." He also weighed in on the Dallas Cowboys potentially extending George Pickens and the Houston Texans' threat in the AFC. His comments highlight a cautious outlook on his former team's immediate championship prospects despite their 11-3 record.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed quarterback Adrian Martinez back to their practice squad, making him the fourth quarterback in their building. Martinez has had a dynamic season, bouncing between the 49ers' practice squad and 53-man roster, and briefly spent time with the New York Jets' practice squad last week. He previously appeared in one game for San Francisco, taking a knee to conclude their November 2nd victory over the Giants.
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams practiced on a limited basis Wednesday due to a neck issue. This reclassification follows a shoulder injury that caused him to miss part of the first half of last Sunday's loss to the Vikings. Despite the injury, Williams returned to finish Week 15 with 15 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown on a 28 percent snap share. He will have two more opportunities to achieve full participation this week before a potential designation for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on key Dallas Cowboys injury updates. He noted wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's absence from Wednesday's practice, later confirming it was due to an illness. Harris also reported that running back Javonte Williams practiced on a limited basis Wednesday due to a neck issue. Williams had previously missed part of the Week 15 game with a shoulder injury but returned to finish with 91 yards and a touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings safety Joshua Metellus has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. He will undergo shoulder surgery after playing through the injury since Week 13. Metellus totaled 86 tackles, half a sack, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, a team-high two interceptions, and six passes defensed this season. Coach Kevin O'Connell stated that Metellus and Greenard will remain involved with the team despite their season-ending injuries.
Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. He will undergo shoulder surgery after aggravating an injury in Sunday's victory over the Cowboys, an issue he initially sustained in Week 10. This unfortunate news comes after Greenard achieved the highest PFF pass-rush grade in Week 15. For the season, he totaled 38 tackles, three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was a full participant in Wednesday's practice despite dealing with an illness. His full participation is a positive sign for his availability and role in the upcoming game. Robinson's presence on the injury report was noted, but his ability to practice fully indicates the illness is not significantly impacting his readiness for Week 16.
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (collarbone) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. This limitation is likely related to maintenance after his return to action last Thursday against the Falcons, his first game since breaking his collarbone in Week 7. In that return, Evans logged a 54 percent snap share and recorded six catches on 12 targets for 132 yards. His status will be monitored as the weekend approaches to ensure his availability for Sunday's game in Carolina.
Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was upgraded to limited participation in Wednesday's practice. This marks a positive step in his recovery from the ankle injury. His progress will be monitored throughout the week as the team prepares for their Saturday night game against the Bears. Wicks' ability to increase his practice reps will be key to his availability for Week 16.
Packers WR Christian Watson (chest/shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, his first activity since suffering an injury against the Broncos. Watson confirmed he went to the emergency room for dislocated ribs but stated he's "feeling pretty good" and expects to be "alright for the game" against the Bears on Saturday. Coach Matt LaFleur noted Watson is "fighting to play" and has a fair chance for Week 16 clearance if he handles limited reps Thursday. He will carry elevated risk if he suits up.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs (knee/ankle) missed Wednesday's practice, showing a significant limp and wearing a knee brace, but still intends to play Saturday against the Bears. He has managed knee issues since Week 11, aggravating it in Week 15 where he recorded 92 total yards and two touchdowns. Jacobs has rushed for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 games this season. His status for Week 16 remains uncertain, with final practice reports providing clarity. Emanuel Wilson is the only other healthy RB on the roster.
